Avatar: The Legend of Perseus

by JkAlex

A demigod has been sent to a world where mortals have the ability to control the elements. A world that has been at war for a hundred years. A world in desperate need of a savior. What will happen when a son of Poseidon reaches the Four Nations? Will he be their savior? Or will he be the harbinger of a much darker future? A crossover between Percy Jackson and Avatar.

16. Book One: Sword 15

N/A: Hello everyone, JkAlex is back with a new chapter.

You love this story as much as I love writing it. I know many are impatient for the events of the first Avatar book to begin with Percy meeting The Gaang, but that's not going to happen yet. Now it's time for Percy to forge his own name and be recognized throughout the Four Nations as he accompanies Zuko on his journey and discovers the full potential of his powers as a demigod. So I hope you enjoy it.

Dragonrule: Yes, Azula was affected by Percy's departure. We'll see how much it affects her later on.

surya25addanki: You're damn right.

FrostyPunkin: Right, Zuko won't be as lonely compared to Canon, but that doesn't mean he won't have the aggressive personality he was known for throughout the first book. In fact, his determination to capture the Avatar will be greater because he has a stronger reason to return to the Fire Nation. He has good friends, people who respect and admire him.

Anonymous: Percy will use both swords, the Dragon Sword when facing mortals and Riptide when facing spirits and monsters.

Junky: Because even Piandao doesn't know the real reason why Percy is the way he is. From his point of view, the most logical thing would be to think that Percy was blessed by some spirit, and that's why he has invulnerable skin. Like the ring and box he had with him when he found them, Piandao thought they belonged to Percy's real parents. And as for why he didn't tell Percy that he wasn't his real father... well, let's just say it wouldn't be an easy conversation to have with a child who "found him in a box floating down a river toward a waterfall." Everyone would think he was abandoned or worse. And Piandao, in his desire to protect Percy, didn't tell him. But Percy will learn of his true origins... later.

mad thought: Yep. That's right. And he'll no doubt make the same joke about it.

JoJo 'Perlia' Jesus: I've always thought Azula had a slight tsundere tendency, just a little, since she's most likely to insult someone and not be honest about her true feelings when it comes to romance. Though there is no doubt that the "tsundere" side of her would be overshadowed by her more sadistic and ruthless side. It will be interesting to explore that side of her personality.

Jxgod: That's understandable, but remember that Percy's fatal flaw is loyalty. And for better or worse, Percy is loyal to Zuko, whom he considers his best friend, his brother. Azula herself told him that his loyalty could cost him dearly. Beyond that, Percy also wants to explore the world to find out why he is the way he is. This is a journey not only to support his friend but also one of self-discovery.

Guest: In this story, I am God. So... let's see. Percy's love life has never been easy, has it?

Bongo: Relax; Percy will keep his "sassy" personality when he meets the Gaang. And no doubt their first encounters will be shocking due to the difference in personalities and beliefs.

Death Fury: Yes, Percy was the cause of the earthquake, though he doesn't know it yet. It is on this journey with Zuko that he will discover the true extent of his powers.

Cross-Eyed Werewolf: Okay, the animated series has its charms. But like I said, the live action was more reflective of the Zuko I wanted to create in my story. Someone kind and honest who wants what is best for his people, but without being cruel or ruthless. Someone with more determination and self-confidence. That is why he stood up to his father and showed a greater determination to stand up for what he had proclaimed, though in the end he refused to hurt him because he loved and respected him immensely. And because of that, Zuko will force himself to be what his father wants him to be. From now on, it will be the decline of Zuko's character.

This chapter is the longest I have written so far in this story, with a total of 15,500 words. So I hope you enjoy it.

From now on, in order to improve the reading experience and to give you a broader view, I will change the writing format. This way, the story will be a more general view instead of focusing on a single person, as I did before, because it limited me too much.

And without further ado... let's go!

---

Chapter 15

The sword that kills spirits

Dear Dad and Fat.

It's been a month since I joined Zuko on his mission to capture the Avatar.

And I have to say, it has been quite an experience.

Our first destination after leaving was the Western Air Temple. It was relatively close to the Fire Nation, and Lieutenant Jee, the official leader of Division 41, said it would take us a week to get there, considering how old our ship was.

It was a surprise to everyone that we made it in only three days.

You may already know this, but the Western Air Temple was not on top of a mountain as one would expect, but under a cliff! The buildings were constructed to look like they were upside down. It was amazing to see.

Zuko didn't seem very interested, though.

---

"It is a truly beautiful view," Iroh commented admiringly, looking fascinated as he watched the vast emptiness from the edge of a small square away from the main buildings.

On the other side of the void, the cliff could be seen, and beyond it, the high mountains rose majestically, trying to reach the sky. The wind was cool and blowing hard. The whole place truly lived up to its name, "The Air Temple of the West."

"The only view I'm interested in is the chained Avatar," Zuko replied sternly.

Iroh's fascination faded from his face, replaced by concern and a slight sadness.

"You know, Zuko. The Avatar hasn't been seen for a hundred years," Iroh reminded him. "The chances of finding him in a few years are very slim."

Zuko did not seem affected or despondent. In fact, his one visible eye burned fiercely as he frowned.

"I know that very well, Uncle. But that won't stop me. First, we will check each of the Air Temples. Then we will search the world. We will search the most remote places until we find him."

"Prince Zuko, it has only been three days since you were banished. You must take some time to heal and rest."

This did not sit well with Zuko, who turned over his shoulder to look sternly at his uncle.

"I'm not lazy like you and Percy, sitting around doing nothing! The only way to regain my honor is to find the Avatar. So that's what I'm going to do, no matter what."

Iroh sighed in resignation and sadness. It hurt him to see his beloved nephew like this. So immersed in a destiny that was forced upon him against his will, a destiny he was so eager to fulfill, that he went so far as to ignore his own health and well-being.

He stepped back, giving his nephew space as he approached the only other teenager who had left the Fire Nation to embark on this journey.

Percy looked curiously at the three large stone statues of the last Avatar born among the Air Nomads, Avatar Yangchen.

"Do all Air Nomads shave their heads like that?" He asked, looking at the statue. "And what about the arrows on their body?"

"The arrows are tattoos that mark the path of Chi," Iroh explained, standing next to him and looking at the majestic statues. "When Air Nomads reach the level of master in Airbending, they tattoo these arrows on their bodies. It is an ancient and noble tradition of theirs."

"Hmm... what a strange tradition."

Though Percy had to admit that the idea of getting tattoos when you became a master of an element was kind of cool. But considering the invulnerability of his skin, he could never get a tattoo even if he wanted to.

"Oh, the Air Nomads had hundreds of unique traditions. No doubt they had a rich culture in which their spirituality and great wisdom stood out. It's a shame what happened to them. An entire civilization... lost."

Percy was intrigued and turned to Iroh with curiosity.

"If the Air Nomads were so spiritual... did they know about the Spirit World and the spirits that inhabit it?"

"I don't know for sure," Iroh replied, stroking his beard. "Even to this day, much about the spirits and the Spirit World remains a mystery. And whatever records the Air Nomads may have left behind are guarded in the secret vaults within the Dragonbone Catacombs. And they can only be accessed by the Fire Sages who guard them, or by the Fire Lord himself."

"I see..."

Percy couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. He had left the Fire Nation with the intention of learning more about himself, and so far, the spirits seemed to have something to do with his strange invulnerability. But the first clue he discovered sent him back to the same place he came from. He couldn't help but notice the irony of the situation.

"It's time to go," Zuko declared, approaching them with a determined step. "There is nothing here to help us find the Avatar. We will go to the next temple. The closest one is the Northern Air Temple. It will take at least a month to get there, so we must leave now."

"But we only got here a few hours ago," Percy said.

Zuko gave him an annoyed look.

"Every day, every hour, every second that passes is time we could be using to find out where the Avatar is and capture him," he said sternly. "Time away from our homes, away from our families and friends, away from our lives! If necessary, I will spend every day of the rest of my life hunting the Avatar. I know it is my destiny to capture him."

There was an intense determination in Zuko's eyes, but there was also a hint of desperation and sadness seeping into his voice. Percy could see it. He knew his friend too well not to.

"You know, Prince Zuko? Fate is a strange thing," Iroh said, placing a hand on his grieving nephew's shoulder. "You never know how things will turn out. But if you keep your mind and heart open, I promise you will find your own destiny."

"My destiny..." Zuko lowered his head thoughtfully before blinking, and a determined look graced his features as he looked up. "My destiny now lies in the Northern Air Temple."

Aaron simply smiled.

"It is good that you are determined, nephew. And I wouldn't presume to tell you how to conduct your quest, but you were told very little about the Avatar as a child. Perhaps knowing more about his life would give you a better idea of what you are looking for."

"How many hundred-year-old Airbenders have you met? I know enough, Uncle."

"We may not be able to find information on a hundred-year-old Airbender, but we can find information on the previous Avatar, Roku. He lived for many years in the Fire Temple on Crescent Island. The fire sages who live in that temple know more about him than anyone else in the world."

"That island is weeks off course!" stormed Zuko.

He knew that this island was on the border of the Fire Nation in the easternmost region. And they were in the northernmost region of the nation. It would take at least two weeks to get there.

"But going could save you years of wasted effort searching for information."

Zuko pursed his lips in disgust but finally sighed and nodded.

"Fine," he agreed. "We'll go to Crescent Island."

Iroh smiled, pleased that he had dissuaded his nephew from a wiser decision.

"I will inform Lieutenant Jee of our new course."

He put his hands behind his back and walked away slowly, humming to himself.

"He's too happy about this trip," Zuko commented, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"Maybe he's only happy because he can help you," Percy pointed out.

"You think so?"

"Absolutely. Now let's get back to the ship."

Zuko gave him a questioning look.

"You look pretty anxious to get back," he said.

Percy just shrugged.

"What can I say? I like traveling by boat. It's relaxing."

"Well, lucky for you, we'll be on this boat for two weeks before we reach Crescent Island."

Percy gave Zuko a cryptic smile.

"Oh, I think it will be a lot less time than you think."

Zuko looked at him in confusion but said nothing. They both left the temple plaza and made their way back to the ship to continue their journey.

---

The look of surprise on Zuko's face was unparalleled when we saw the harbor of Crescent Island after only a week. Everyone in the crew was really puzzled and thought it was either the tide in our favor or because of the boat, which was small but had a powerful engine. Although I think it was something else...

Fortunately, our trip to the Fire Temple on Crescent Island was not in vain. Zuko managed to gather a lot of information about the previous Avatars. As for me... I found some interesting things in the history books.

---

The way to the Fire Temple was a winding path to the top of a rocky outcrop near the edge of the island, which was shaped like a crescent moon, hence its name. Although it was more than an island, the whole place seemed to be an extension of the large active volcano that rose imposingly from the sea.

Crescent Island didn't have a volcano; the volcano was Crescent Island.

Percy worriedly looked at the huge amount of smoke coming from the big volcano—so much smoke that it even blackened the sky.

"It's not going to erupt, is it?" he asked with some concern in his voice.

"Unlikely," Iroh replied, walking beside him. "Although the Crescent Island volcano has been active for over a hundred years, it has only erupted three times. And even if it did, the Fire Temple was built in such a way that the lava would find its way to the sea away from the temple."

Despite his attempts to reassure him, Percy's concern did not abate. He felt something strange. It was almost as if he could feel the earth trembling beneath his feet, the vast amount of magma yearning to be violently released. Perhaps it was just his own paranoia manifesting itself.

When they arrived at the temple, they were greeted by a single man wearing long red robes that covered his entire body and a tall ceremonial hat. The man was older, perhaps Iroh's age, and had a whitish goatee.

"Greetings, my name is Shyu," the man introduced himself, bowing, "I will be your host for your stay on Crescent Island. I am sorry that the Great Sage is unable to receive you at this time, but I would be honored to guide you and help you learn more about the Avatar."

"Lead the way," Zuko ordered.

The sage simply nodded and led the way into the temple. As they entered the main hall, what stood out most was the large statue of who everyone knew to be Avatar Roku, the last known Avatar. The statue was over 30 feet tall and appeared to be made of gold and bronze. And wrapped around the statue's feet was a dragon made of pure gold.

"Wow, this place is amazing," Percy said, admiring the large statue and the huge hall.

"I appreciate your words, young man," Shyu smiled, looking pleased. "We, the Fire Sages, strive to keep this sacred place in the best possible condition."

"Do you live here?"

Shyu nodded.

"That is correct. Becoming a Fire Sage is a lifelong commitment. We are dedicated to following the ancient traditions of our ancestors and preserving not only the history of the previous Avatars but also spiritual knowledge."

"Do you... have any spirit scrolls?" Percy asked, intrigued.

"Of course we do. All knowledge is precious."

Percy was thrilled to hear this. Perhaps this journey was not only beneficial for Zuko but for him as well.

"Can I... Can I read the scrolls you have on the spirits?" he asked hesitantly.

Shyu and Zuko looked at him curiously, especially Zuko. He didn't know that Percy was interested in learning about spirits. It was the first time he showed interest in anything other than the art of the sword.

The old fire sage looked a little uncertain at Percy's request.

"The knowledge we have about the spirits and their world is scarce, which makes it extremely valuable. If it were to be harmed in any way..."

Iroh put a hand on Percy's shoulder.

"I will vouch for him," Isaac said with a smile. "Young Percy has my trust. And I know he will handle the files with the utmost care."

Shyu looked at Iroh and then at Percy and nodded.

"Very well. If General Iroh vouchs for you, then I will allow you to read the files, although I will have to be present. Just as a precaution."

"And that's completely understandable. Do you agree, Percy?"

"Yeah, no problem. I... thank you, Iroh."

Iroh smiled at him kindly.

"You're welcome, my boy."

As Shyu continued to lead them into the library, Zuko approached Percy and looked at him with intrigue.

"I didn't know you were interested in spirits," he commented.

"I told you I had my reasons for wanting to accompany you on this journey," Percy said. "Learning about spirits is one of them."

Zuko raised an eyebrow.

"One of them?"

"I'll tell you about the others later."

Finally, they arrived at the library, which was a large room with ceiling-high bookshelves filled with scrolls. There were several ladders to reach the highest scrolls and a few desks for reading and writing.

"These scrolls are thousands of years old," Shyu explained. "Our duty as Fire Sages is to preserve the history written on them. I spend as much time as I can in this library, copying the deteriorating scrolls so that the knowledge they contain will survive."

Shyu led them to one of the desks, which had a pair of chairs and an oil lamp to provide light for reading.

"You may use my desk while you are here," he offered. "We haven't had a student at the Avatar in decades. Let alone one interested in learning about spirits. Although, in a way, it's the same thing."

"What do you mean?" Zuko asked, sitting in one chair and Percy in the other, setting his Dragon Sword on the side of the desk so it wouldn't get in the way of his reading.

"The Avatar as we know it is nothing more than a host. A human vessel of the true Avatar spirit; Raava, the spirit of light and peace."

Shyu placed a scroll on the desk and unrolled it, revealing the portrait of a spirit Percy likened to a... comet. Yes, the Spirit of Light and Peace was shaped like a toy comet. With a long tail and strange markings on its body.

"This spirit... does it live inside the Avatar?" Zuko asked, staring at the portrait in confusion.

"Yes," answered Shyu. "And when the Avatar dies, that spirit returns to inhabit the next reincarnation of its former host, in a cycle that has repeated itself over the past millennia."

Zuko gazed in wonder at the portrait of Raava, the spirit of the Avatar, running his fingers along the inky lines as he processed the new information he had gained about the one he had been sent to capture.

"That spirit is what makes the Avatar so unique and special," Shyu continued. "It makes him able to control the four elements and be the bridge between the mortal world and the spirit world. And also..."

Shyu placed a scroll on the desk, revealing the silhouette of the last known Avatar, Roku. But there was something strange. Behind Roku, there were many silhouettes of different people, dressed in clothes from different nations. But there was something common to all of them, and that was that the eyes of all of these silhouettes were completely white, as if they were glowing.

"What is that?" Zuko asked.

"This is what Roku called 'The Avatar State'," Shyu explained. "When an Avatar enters the Avatar State, it allows them to channel the cosmic energies and knowledge of all previous Avatars, giving them immeasurable strength and the ability to perform particularly powerful and extraordinary feats of control. It is the Avatar's strongest, most powerful, and yet most terrifying ability."

Zuko looked at the painting with trepidation. He now understood why the Avatar was the Fire Nation's greatest threat. The Avatar was someone extremely dangerous... and terrifying.

"Are there any scrolls that tell of the Avatar's origins?" he asked.

She shook his head.

"Unfortunately, our records don't go back that far," he said before placing another scroll in front of Zuko and unwrapping it. "The oldest record we have is of Avatar Szeto, a man who greatly strengthened the Fire Nation government. He restored economic balance and established programs to help the poor and needy. Undoubtedly, he was a shining example of Fire Nation values in general. Efficiency, precision, and loyalty."

Zuko looked at the scroll that chronicled Szeto's life and work, from his birth to his ascension as a full Avatar. And all he had done for the Fire Nation until his death.

As Zuko perused the scroll of Avatar Szeto, Percy watched as Shyu carefully unrolled a scroll in front of him.

"This scroll is a brief list of the spirits that have been seen over the centuries. And even with that, they are quite rare. Normally, spirits don't leave the Spirit World unless it's for a good reason."

Percy looked at the scroll, and indeed, the list was not very long. He could recognize spirits like the Kemurikage, Koh, The Mother of Faces, The Painted Lady, Father Glowworn, Wa Shi Tong, Tui, and La were among the few. There were other spirits that did not even have proper names but simply mentioned the places where they appeared or the appearance of an animal they resembled. All in all, the number of spirit sightings barely exceeded two dozen, and all of those situations were for very specific reasons, such as special dates or unique events. Shyu had not lied when he said that the information they had about the spirits was scarce.

But there was something that caught Percy's attention. As he looked at the list of spirits, there was one that caught his attention. Wa Shi Tong, the ancient spirit of wisdom and knowledge, who was said to have all the knowledge of the Spirit World and the Mortal World stored in his spirit library in the Si Wong Desert in the Earth Kingdom. For a few moments, Perry thought they could go there, but when he read that the library was buried in the sands of the vast desert, his initial excitement quickly faded.

Percy sighed wearily and rested his cheek on his hand as he continued to lazily read the scant information on spirits, hoping to find some of the spirit he was looking for.

Seiryu, the Dragon of the East.

---

It was dark, but Percy could still see as clearly as if it were daylight. It was a strange experience and hard to explain unless you experienced it yourself. Even Percy could not fully understand it, but he knew that he was at the bottom of the sea. The various sea creatures crawling on the bottom and the fish swimming around told him so.

That's when he knew. He was having another one of those strange dreams.

Over the past few years, he had learned to tell the difference between a dream and reality. And even though his dreams had the same intensity as reality, he knew how to tell them apart. The fact that he was now at the bottom of the sea and not at the desk of a temple was a clear indication.

He looked around curiously. He had never dived to the deepest part of a lake or sea where he thought he was, so it made him a little uncomfortable, and he wondered why he was dreaming about it.

He glided through the dark water, taking a close look at everything he encountered. From the sea creatures to the various plants that flourished deep in the water. As he swam, he noticed something strange in the distance and swam towards it. He was drawn to a group of rocks that formed the entrance to a cave. As he approached it, he suddenly stopped.

Inside the cave, he could see a dark, coiled silhouette. Its body was so bulky that it could barely fit inside the cave. Percy felt an uneasy feeling as he looked at this... thing. And when a pair of yellow eyes flashed into the dark cave, he felt a shiver run down his spine. The beast seemed to be staring right at him as a low growl came from inside the cave.

But then something else caught his attention. Looking down, Percy noticed a faint glimmer of light in his hand. It was the ring his father had given him before the journey began. The ring, made of bronze, cast a light that shone brightly in the dark place under the water.

The growl of the beast inside the cave grew louder. And as Percy turned to look, he saw a huge silhouette lunging at him.

The last thing he saw were the fanged jaws of a huge creature lunging at him.

---

Percy awoke with a start, abruptly lifting his head from the desk where he had been sleeping. He felt his heart pounding in his chest and frantically looked around, searching for the beast. But he was relieved to find himself at Shyu's desk.

He took a deep breath to calm his heart. His dreams had always been strange. Percy had always been very much an observer, so it was really disconcerting to be noticed for the first time. And it seemed to be some kind of... sea creature. An evil spirit? Like the Jiang Shi? Would he face another spirit again?

The bustle he heard through the window brought him out of his thoughts. As he approached and peered through, Percy's eyes widened in surprise as he saw Zuko facing a Fire Sage in a fire duel.

"That idiot...! Did he get into another Agni Kai?!" Percy yelled, grabbing the dragon sword and heading straight for the open window.

Without a second thought, Percy jumped out the window into the courtyard, never mind that he was on a second floor. When he landed, he rolled to break his fall and quickly ran over to where Zuko was dueling with a Fire Sage, who, judging by his movements and the way he overpowered Zuko, was a fairly skilled Firebender.

Seeing the Fire Sage thrust his arms forward and send an intense bolt of fire at Zuko, who looked worried at the sight of the powerful attack, Percy did not hesitate to intervene, drawing the Dragon Sword and swinging it with great force. The swing was so intense that it not only split the fireball in half but eventually dissipated it completely.

All the fire sages present gasped in surprise to see such a feat performed by a teenager with only a sword.

"Percy...?" Zuko muttered in amazement as well.

The flames from the Great Fire Sage were so intense that they had completely overwhelmed him. It had even burned his forearm. But Percy dispelled them with the greatest of ease with a simple swing of his sword.

"Getting into another Agni Kai again, Zuko?" asked Percy, looking at him with slight annoyance. "Don't you ever learn? I take my eyes off you for a second, and you're already challenging someone to an Agni Kai."

Zuko frowned in annoyance.

"I didn't need your help!" he muttered, embarrassed that his friend had to step in to save him. "I would have been fine!"

"Yeah, right," Percy snorted, sheathing his sword smoothly. "And that burn on your arm; you got that from a lamp, didn't you?"

Percy looked at the burn on Zuko's forearm and pushed it away, cradling it with his other arm.

With a sigh, Percy walked over to his friend and put a hand on his shoulder.

"Look, Zuko, you're still a little injured. How about you rest and recover before you challenge anyone to an Agni Kai? We could even train together like we used to! I'd kick your ass like I used to."

"I don't need sword training right now!" Zuko stuttered and pushed Percy's hand away. "What I need is to get stronger in my firebending! When I find the Avatar, I won't be able to defeat a master of the four elements with just swords."

Zuko stormed off, passing Iroh, who tried to talk to his nephew, but he just ignored him and went into the temple.

"Thanks for stopping this, Percy," Iroh said with a small smile of gratitude.

"Why did he decide to fight that old man?" Percy asked, looking at the Great Sage, who returned his gaze with obvious suspicion.

Iroh let out a tired sigh.

"Zuko saw him training with the Fire Sages and demanded to be taught," he explained. "The Great Sage did not take kindly to Zuko, the exiled prince, demanding something of him and made his displeasure known. Zuko did not take it well and lashed out. I was about to stop him myself, but you arrived just in time to prevent a catastrophic outcome. Thank you for that."

"Don't worry, it was nothing."

"Unfortunately, I don't think we're welcome here anymore."

Percy looked at the Fire Sages, who all looked at him with annoyance. In front of them was the Great Sage, who looked at them with obvious disgust, as if their very presence in this place was an insult to all his beliefs.

The only one who seemed to be on their side was Sage Shyu, who spoke softly to the Great Sage, trying to calm his anger. It didn't seem to work, as the Great Sage said a few words to him and walked away with the other fire sages, leaving Shyu with slumped shoulders and a dejected expression on his face.

"I am sorry to have to tell you this, but you are no longer welcome here," he said regretfully. "You must board your ship and leave immediately."

"I see," Iroh nodded. "It is a pity. Thank you for your kind welcome, Sage Shyu. I am sure Zuko learned much from the Avatar with the files you provided."

Iroh bowed to the Fire Sage, who returned it.

"It was a pleasure, General Iroh. And I hope Prince Zuko was not the only one to benefit."

Shyu gave Percy an expectant look.

"Oh, yes... I learned a lot," Percy nodded.

And he meant it. He had learned about spirits he had never heard or read about. But he hadn't discovered anything relevant about the spirit he was looking for. The only new thing he had learned about Seiryu, the Dragon of the East, was that he had once been a highly revered spirit. Not only by the Fire Nation, but also, surprisingly, by the Water Tribe. It was understandable, though, since Seiryu was a water-dwelling spirit who could create tsunamis with just a roar.

Perhaps the Water Tribe would have more information about this particular spirit.

Thinking about water spirits, Percy couldn't help but think about the spirit he saw in his dreams.

"Sage Shyu..." Perry spoke hesitantly. "Is there... is there a way to kill a spirit?"

Shyu's eyes widened in surprise, while Iroh's features took on a serious expression.

"Kill... a spirit?" Shyu asked, perplexed and somewhat afraid. "Young Percy... Why do you want to know how to kill a spirit? Besides, haven't you already done it? As far as I know, you killed a Jiang Shi two years ago."

Percy was surprised that Sage Shyu knew that, but he figured it was to be expected. Part of his job was to record historical facts. And a twelve-year-old boy killing an evil spirit would be an event to add to his historical records.

"I... I didn't kill it," Percy said. "All I did was cut the head off the body that Jiang Shi possessed. And Zuko and Azula had weakened its body quite a bit by burning it with their firebending."

"I see... You severed the spirit's connection to the mortal world," Shyu thought, stroking his beard. "But to kill the spirit itself... Only the Avatar would be capable of such a feat. And he would always try to appease the spirit rather than kill it."

"So... only a bender can kill a spirit?"

Percy remembered how he "killed" Jiang Shi by using his bending over water to freeze the spirit body and then shatter it into dozens of pieces. He also remembered that Zuko and Azula's fire had been able to hurt it, so perhaps only a bender could stand up to a spirit.

Shyu nodded.

"Yes. Besides, a normal person would not be able to see a spirit unless they have a deep spiritual connection or the spirit itself decides to take a mortal form. And as far as I know, only a bender can harm a spirit with the elements, since mortal weapons cannot harm them."

Shyu suddenly became silent and opened his eyes as if he had remembered something important.

"Please wait a moment."

Shyu entered the temple in a hurry, leaving Perry confused.

"Percy..." Iroh spoke, catching Percy's attention when he heard how serious the old general sounded and looked. "Why do you want to know how to kill a spirit?"

"Well..." Percy considered telling him about his dream but quickly rejected it. His dreams had always been strange, but it wasn't like they predicted the future or anything. Maybe he was just a little paranoid about how uncertain this journey was and what dangers they might encounter. "I just thought it would be useful to know how to deal with spirits, considering we're going to be traveling all over the world. There's always a chance we'll run into one, right? Besides, the Avatar has a wraith within him."

"That's... true," Iroh admitted, though he still looked a bit skeptical.

When Shyu finally returned, he held a small scroll wrapped in a ribbon.

"Here," he offered it to Percy. "Perhaps this scroll will help you. You can take it with you. I just transcribed it today, so I can do it again."

"Thank you," Percy said, accepting the parchment.

He wanted to unfold it right away and see what it was about, but he could do that once they were on the ship.

It wasn't long before Zuko emerged again, and when he did, Percy was a bit shocked at what he saw. Zuko had removed the bandages covering his left eye, exposing a large burn that covered much of the skin around the eye up to his ear.

As he approached, Percy saw the deep frown on his friend's face.

"I've had enough of this place," he declared in a harsh voice. "I learned what I needed to know."

"Prince Zuko..." Iroh said with a sad expression as he saw the scar on his nephew's face.

"We will leave immediately. Inform the crew."

Without waiting for an answer, Zuko walked away, heading towards the path that would take him back to where they had docked the ship.

Percy looked worriedly at his friend's back, feeling as if the distance between them was growing. And he didn't mean physical distance.

Not for the first time and not for the last, he cursed Ozai for what he had done to Zuko.

---

When they arrived at the ship, Percy wasted no time in going straight to his dressing room with the intention of reading the scroll he had received from Sage Shyu. He closed the iron door of his room and went straight to his desk, which was made of iron and bolted to the floor to keep it from slipping during the voyage. There were no chairs, just a cushion on which Percy sat and unrolled the parchment.

He had to strain to read the words written in ink. He had always had this problem where the words seemed to float or shift as he read them. Over time, he had learned to read, but it required great concentration.

But as he read the scroll, he felt more and more absorbed as he discovered what was on it.

The scroll told of how about 100 years ago, in the time of Avatar Roku and Fire Lord Sozin, there was a man who traveled through the Four Nations, saving villages from being attacked by evil spirits. But the most remarkable thing was how he did it. This man was not a bender; he did not confront the spirits by bending the elements, but with a sword. A sword capable of killing spirits.

Percy opened his eyes in surprise and fascination as he read this. So there was a sword that could kill spirits. And it was being wielded by this mysterious man.

As he read on, Percy discovered that Avatar Roku had met this mysterious man in his quest to master the four elements, and they had worked together to save the city of Yu Dao from being besieged by a horde of evil spirits. After that, Avatar Roku had traveled in the man's company, working together to rid the world of the evil spirits that plagued the Four Nations and forming a strong friendship.

In time, the two went their separate ways as they grew older. Avatar Roku returned to the Fire Nation and settled on the home island that bears his name, where he married, raised a family, and lived peacefully until his death. The mystery man, in turn, had settled somewhere in the Earth Kingdom. The last they heard of him was in a letter to Avatar Roku, transcribed at the end of the scroll.

To my dear friend Roku.

It has been nearly twenty-five years since we last saw each other. The last time was at your wedding, where you finally married Ta Min. I hope you have started the family you always wanted with her. For my part, I did the same shortly after your wedding. It was private and low-key. You know I never liked big celebrations.

The world has enjoyed a time of peace since we closed the rift to the Spirit World... but I have discovered that a darkness even greater than any we have faced is coming. I don't know if it will be in the next few years or 100 years from now. And that's what scares me the most. I'm afraid I won't be alive long enough to stop it. That is why I am writing you this letter. If neither of us is alive when the world is threatened by this great evil, maybe your next reincarnation can do something. And maybe, just maybe, someone like me will appear to help.

I'm sorry this letter is so gloomy, my friend. I would have loved to meet you again and share our experiences. I would have loved to meet your children and introduce you to mine and my grandchildren. They grew up with stories of our adventures, so they would have loved to meet you and Fang.

I hope you had the peaceful life you always wanted. I, for one, have made it.

Love, your old friend, Luke Castellan.

Percy thought in somber silence as he finished reading the letter. Was the great evil Luke Castellan referring to the impending war? Or was it something else? The letter mentioned that he and Avatar Roku had closed a rift to the Spirit World. Perhaps he was referring to something to do with evil spirits? He didn't know.

As he was about to roll up the parchment, Percy noticed something else. At the very end, he saw that there was something else written, and when he unrolled the whole scroll to see what it was, his eyes widened in surprise.

He recognized the writing. He had seen it before. Quickly, he went to his bed and reached under it, pulling out the wooden box his father had given him before he left the capital. When he took it to his desk and compared the writing engraved on the box with the writing on the parchment, he saw that they were the same.

Luke Castellan, the mysterious man who carried a sword capable of killing spirits... was somehow related to his mother.

Percy concentrated on reading what Luke had written in this letter to Avatar Roku, but he couldn't make out the whole thing. Just a few words.

For... who can read... there is... important... you must know. Let me... not... mortal...

...half-blood... demigod. Son... god... mortal.

My name... Luke Castellan and... demigod... Hermes... Olympian... Messenger... many others... And... mad... this... world... different. This paragraph... written... dead language... read... demigod.

I know... you feel... different... And maybe... fear... not be afraid... unique.

Percy held the bridge of his nose, feeling a headache coming on. He didn't know why he could understand some of the words in these strange writings, let alone read them. Perhaps it had something to do with the blessing he had received from the spirit that had made his skin invulnerable? Something like the language of the spirits that only those who were blessed by them could read. It sounded kind of crazy, but considering the crazy things he could do, it was the only explanation he could think of.

He looked at the scroll again and concentrated on reading it, ignoring the slight headache he felt.

If you want to know who we are... and why we are... world, you must go... library of Wa Shi Tong... desert of Si Wong. There... writings... will answer... all... questions...

Although he could not fully read what was written on the scroll, he understood the last message. In Wa Shi Tong's library in the Si Wong Desert were the answers to his questions.

Why did he have these abilities? Why could he read that strange language? And now, what was the relationship between his mother and this strange man named Luke Castellan?

As he went over the message Luke had left for the last time, there was one word that repeated itself several times: demigod.

What was a demigod?

Percy ran his fingers over this strange word written in this strange language. Perhaps he would find the answer in the library of Wa Shi Tong.

---

The next time we boarded the ship, the journey was much longer. It was a little over a week before we finally left the Fire Nation and entered Earth Kingdom territory. Though it was territory conquered by the Fire Nation, Iroh warned us to be on our guard, as the Earth Kingdom's army was always fighting to regain territory they had lost 100 years ago. Although it was unlikely that they would attack such a small ship, Isaac gave me some good advice:

"Prepare for the worst and hope for the best."

That's why I always carried my sword with me. Zuko called me paranoid, but I could see him tapping his feet on the ground and clenching his knuckles as his body tensed, as if waiting for an imminent attack.

Things calmed down when we finally reached one of the many Fire Nation colonies, a small village on the banks of a large river. We could not go upriver through the North Sea to the Northern Air Temple because those waters were under the control of the Northern Water Tribe, so we would have to walk through the forest to the Northern Air Temple.

Before going to the temple, we stopped at the village where the Fire Days Festival was being held. When we arrived and I heard about the festival, I was excited to attend, but Zuko did not share the same excitement.

---

When they finally reached port after a few weeks at sea, Zuko's crew was greeted by a small group of soldiers, who immediately boarded the ship before the crew could disembark.

The one in front of them all introduced himself as Commander Kanku, a man wearing ornate red armor with light gold accents and a toga across his torso, indicating that he was the military man with the highest authority in the territory controlled by the Fire Nation.

"I don't know how I can make it any clearer to you, Your Highness," the Commander said with a condescending tone and a haughty smile. "The Fire Nation has controlled this territory for decades. My men have been over every inch of this temple. If there was anything to find, we would have found it by now."

Zuko frowned in annoyance and took a step to reply truthfully to the commander's statement, but Iroh beat him to it.

"Anyway, I think Prince Zuko would like to see for himself," he said more diplomatically. "Perhaps if you would lend us your maps, we could conduct our own investigation and be out of your way faster."

"And risk the Fire Lord's goodwill? Tentative, but not," Kanku replied. "If your nephew insists on going through my forest, he'll have to do it without my help."

"Hey, it's just some maps," Percy said, not caring that he was talking to a commander. "We're not asking you to lend us your men as guides, just some papers to lead us to an abandoned temple."

Commander Kanku looked at Percy with haughtiness and a grimace, clearly annoyed by the interference and disrespect of a boy who, in his eyes, looked like nothing more than a simple civilian.

"Well, judging by the inexperienced crew and inefficient company Prince Zuko has with him," Kanku gave Iroh and Percy a sidelong glance before smirking and pointing at the soldiers behind him. "My men are clearly superior when it comes to performing any duty. But news of the lord's banishment has reached every military base in the Earth Kingdom. The Fire Lord has expressly forbidden us to aid the exiled prince in his mission to capture the Avatar. He must prove his worth by accomplishing this task alone."

Zuko's brow furrowed and his fists clenched, but he pursed his lips and stifled any retort.

The commander, pleased with his lack of response, turned his back with the intention of leaving the ship. Before doing so, however, he glanced over his shoulder at Zuko with a slightly mocking smile.

"By the way, Your Highness, tonight is the Fire Days Festival; why don't you go have fun instead of wasting your time with ghosts?"

The commander walked down the ramp with his men, leaving Zuko, Iroh, and Percy alone.

"Actually, that's not a bad idea, Prince Zuko," Iroh said, trying to cheer up his nephew and get him to relax a little. "Here in the colonies, the celebrations are different from those in the capital."

"Really?" Percy asked curiously. "In what way?"

Happy that at least Percy was interested, Iroh continued.

"Oh, well. There are puppet shows, magic shows, juggling, fireworks... And lots of free food! The firecrackers aren't so good, but there's masquerade dancing! And I also think..."

"I'm not interested in those stupid peasant customs!" Zuko spat angrily. "If you want to see them so badly, go by yourself!"

Zuko left the deck and entered the conning tower, closing the door behind him.

Iroh looked sadly at his nephew, scornfully refusing any chance to distract him from the mission that seemed to eat away at him day by day. Although, knowing the weight that had been placed on his shoulders at such a young age, it was to be expected.

---

Zuko spent the entire day in his room meditating, trying to clear his mind and dispel the tumultuous thoughts that invaded him.

As he breathed deeply and rhythmically, the flames of the candles in front of him diminished with each inhalation and increased with each exhalation. It was a basic firebending exercise he had learned years ago.

Though he had performed this exercise with the intention of calming and focusing his mind, it only succeeded in making his mind wander to darker thoughts. Memories of fire... screams... pain...

'I'm sorry, Father! I only want what's best for the Fire Nation! I'm sorry I spoke out of turn!'

'Rise. You will fight for your honor.'

'No! Please, Father... I meant no disrespect. I am your loyal son.'

'Rise!'

The flames seemed to burn so brightly in his memory that he could almost feel their heat flicker behind his closed eyes. He could feel his body burning and sweat running down his body.

'Here and now, you will learn that compassion is a sign of weakness. And suffering will be your teacher.'

Zuko opened his eyes abruptly as a sharp, intense phantom pain ran down the left side of his face. He brought a hand to his scar, where he could almost feel the remnants of heat. His breathing was labored, and his heartbeat was rapid and intense.

He closed his eyes and concentrated on calming his erratic breathing, but a dull thud distracted him. Curious, Zuko rose from his meditative posture and stepped out of his private room. He knew the entire crew was at the festival, so he found it strange that there was noise. As he walked down the corridors without making any noise, he didn't see any soldiers, his uncle, or Percy, which only made him more alert.

As he turned a corner, the sound grew louder, and he realized where it was coming from: the weapons storage room.

Zuko leaned through the iron door and listened intently to the sound coming from inside. It sounded as if someone was rummaging through the crates that held all the weapons. He knew it was impossible for a single soldier to do such a thing without a guard present, so he immediately assumed it was a thief.

Determined, he abruptly kicked open the iron door and entered the room with a pair of fire daggers in his hands, ready to confront any stowaway.

What he did not expect was to find a man dressed in black from head to toe. He carried two dao swords sheathed in his back, and his face was covered by a red ceramic mask that looked disturbingly familiar to Zuko.

The man was stuffing something into a bag slung over his shoulders as Zuko entered. The two looked at each other in silence for a few seconds, processing each other's presence, before Zuko lunged at the thief with the intention of subduing him, but he used his swords to keep his distance and prevent Zuko from getting too close. With the armory filled with crates of coal, cannonballs, and a large amount of gunpowder, he could not use his firebending carelessly.

The thief apparently knew this and took advantage of it, keeping his distance from Zuko by using his dao swords and a series of acrobatics that demonstrated his agility. Using that agility, he was able to leap at Zuko and dodge his attempts to grab him.

"Stop!" he shouted, running after the thief who had escaped through the open door.

Zuko gave chase, but the thief quickly climbed onto the deck, ran to the ship's railing, and leaped over it. But before he fell, the man turned and gave Zuko a mocking salute, leaving him standing in the middle of the empty deck.

He glared in anger and frustration at the place where the thief had fled, and his vision was drawn to the lights of the village festival, causing him to squint.

---

As he walked through the lantern-lit streets of the village, Zuko kept his eyes peeled for the thief. It was like looking for a needle in a haystack, as most people wore ceramic masks with animal or spirit motifs to hide their faces. The thief who had boarded his ship could easily go unnoticed in that place, even with his mask on. If he wasn't wearing it, it would be much harder to find him, but Zuko wasn't giving up. He was not going to let a simple thief get away with stealing from the Prince of the Fire Nation.

As he walked through the crowd, Zuko ignored the loud sounds of the musical instruments that set the mood of the festival and dazzled his ears to focus on the masked people, hoping to find the thief.

Knowing he would not find him by simply looking with his eyes, Zuko growled in frustration and pointed at one of the masked men.

"You!" he shouted as he approached a man wearing a red mask with an extremely long nose. "I'm looking for a man in a red mask."

The man Zuko had pointed to took off his mask, revealing himself to be an old man.

"Son, this is the Festival of the Days of Fire," he said. "Today, I have seen many men wearing red masks. I am wearing one."

"The man I'm looking for was carrying a bag... And he was using two dao swords."

"Ah, you mean the Red Spirit!" said a woman accompanying the old man, who was also wearing a mask.

"Who?"

"He is something of a legend around here. I shouldn't say this to a foreigner, but... Commander Kanku hasn't made things easy for us since he arrived here a year ago. He keeps much of the food and medicine for himself and his soldiers. He forces our sons and daughters to enlist and sends them to the warfront. Although maybe it's for the best, considering what happened last year."

The woman stifled a sob and looked down.

The old man approached her and embraced her, trying to comfort her.

"Forgive my daughter; this last year has not been easy for her... nor for any of us... Anyway, the Red Spirit you seek has been helping us through it all. He steals supplies from Commander Kanku's base and leaves them at our doorstep."

"It is good to know that at least one good spirit is watching over us," the woman with the mask, who had taken it off to wipe away some tears in her eyes, said in a choked voice.

"He is not a spirit," Zuko replied, looking away. "He is nothing but a thief."

"The Red Spirit is more than that, young traveler," a new voice said.

They all turned to see an old woman slowly approaching them. She was small and stooped, her long grey hair tied back. She wore red and orange ceremonial robes. She was leaning on a long wooden staff with a dragon's head carved on the top.

"Priestess Umeko," the old man said, bowing in respect. "I did not expect to see you here tonight. We all thought you would stay in the temple to pray."

"I have offered my prayers to the spirits," she said solemnly. "Now all we can do is wait for our prayers to be answered. And may the Red Spirit give us his protection for one more night."

"Protection?" Zuko asked in disbelief. "This man is no spirit! He is nothing but a thief!"

The Umeko priestess shook her head sadly.

"You are a foreigner, young man. So you don't understand. The presence of the Red Spirit has helped us endure not only the tyranny of Commander Kanku but also the threat that plagues us every year at this time. He has stolen supplies from the military base to distribute to the villagers, but he has also given us protection from an evil spirit that rises from the depths of the sea each year to terrorise us, devouring our crops, our livestock, and... our children."

The priestess looked down with regret, and the woman who had spoken to Zuko earlier began to cry. Zuko guessed it was her child who had been taken by the evil spirit she spoke of.

"What spirit?" he asked.

The priestess looked darkly at the dragon head on her staff.

"The Nian," she said. And maybe it was Zuko's imagination, but he could feel a cold wind blowing and the lights of the festival growing dimmer. "An ancient, evil spirit that brings destruction and death. For centuries, our people have lived under the constant threat of the Nian, who rises from the depths of the sea on New Year's Eve to torment our people. Our ancestors found a way to keep the beast at bay through this festival. The lights, the red colour, the noise... it all keeps the Nian away, but sometimes... sometimes it's not enough. And the Nian claims a victim."

Zuko heard the woman who spoke to him begin to cry softly, and her father tried to comfort her.

"That is why the Red Spirit is so beloved in our village," the Umeko priestess continued. "Not only has he helped us by returning the supplies that Commander Kanku took from us, but he has also kept the Nian at bay these past few days. Thanks to him, our crops, livestock, and... our children... have survived the evil spirit's attack."

Zuko frowned thoughtfully and pursed his lips. This man, this thief... he helped this town a lot. But why did he board his ship to steal? What was he looking for in the armoury?

He shook his head fervently with a heavy frown.

"A thief is a thief," he said.

Zuko left those people, determined to find the thief and force him to return what he had stolen from his ship.

He searched the entire festival for the man, but his search was fruitless and increasingly frustrating. There were hundreds of people at the festival, and the vast majority of them wore masks, so finding the thief would be impossible.

Impossible, unless he had help.

Zuko approached a large stage that had been set up in the middle of the festival, where he recognised the familiar back of his uncle and the sword sheathed in Percy's back, both watching with interest the spectacle unfolding above the stage.

"Uncle, Percy, I need to talk to you."

"Shh," his uncle silenced him, putting a finger to his lips without taking his eyes off the stage. "This is the best part!"

"But...!"

"Nephew, it's important to pay attention to the art. Whatever urges you have, you can wait until the end of the play."

Irritated by his uncle's lack of interest, Zuko turned to his friend.

"Percy, you have to help me..."

Zuko fell silent as he turned to Percy, who was wearing a familiar blue dragon mask.

"Percy?"

The young swordsman lifted his mask to reveal a smiling face.

"Zuko, you missed all the fun!" he said excitedly. "This place is amazing. The fireflakes aren't as good as in the capital, but you have to try the mochis! They're amazing!"

Percy offered him a mochi in one hand while holding a bag full of them in the other.

"No... thanks. Anyway, I need you to help me with something important!"

"Can we wait until the play is over?" he asked, taking a bite of mochi and looking at the stage. "I hear the actors are very good."

"Aaagrh... Fine!"

Zuko crossed his arms in irritation and looked at the stage where the play was taking place. He saw that there was a group of people dressed in uniforms that simulated the military uniforms of the Earth Kingdom, carrying large stones made of paper. They were standing at the foot of a structure that simulated the great wall of Ba Sing Se, with a man in elaborate robes at the top, posing as the Earth King.

In front of the group of men representing the soldiers of the Earth Kingdom, there was a single man dressed in red and yellow robes. His face was lightly painted, making it impossible to recognise him. But as he performed a series of nimble and flashy firebending manoeuvres to "fight" the Earth Kingdom soldiers and captivate the audience, Zuko saw that he was strangely familiar.

As the painted man defeated the soldiers, the man posing as the Earth King spoke in a theatrical voice.

"Sun Wukong!" he shouted before jumping off the wall and landing on the stage with two large paper stones in his hand. "You may have defeated my earthbenders, but you will never defeat the impenetrable walls of Ba Sing Se!"

"No need, Your Majesty!" Sun Wukong shouted as he leapt over the Earth King. "If you will kindly open the gates!"

The crowd erupted in laughter as Sun Wukong walked through the open gates of the wall and climbed to the top.

"Thank you for welcoming me to your great city! It will be an excellent gift for the Fire Lord!"

The audience applauded with energy and excitement for Sun Wukong, who greeted them all in a peculiar way that made Zuko's eyes widen with recognition.

"It's him," Zuko grunted as he walked towards the stage.

"Nephew?" called Iroh, confused.

"I'll see you on the ship!"

Zuko walked straight to the back of the stage where the actors were gathered, but raised an eyebrow when he saw Percy following him.

"You wanted help, didn't you?" he said.

Zuko said nothing, just nodded his thanks. Perry would be helpful if the thief decided to run again.

When they reached the back of the stage, Zuko immediately recognised the man he was looking for, who was removing his costume from the play.

"Hey, you!" Zuko shouted.

"Sorry, if you want an autograph, you'll have to wait until the next show," the man said without looking at him. "I'm a little busy right now."

"Will there be another show?" Percy asked interested.

"That's right, buddy. I will play Ou Fei Ou! The man went all the way to the Spirit World to bring back his deceased lover!"

Percy seemed genuinely interested in the play, but Zuko had no time for childish games.

"Stop ignoring me!" he said, approaching the actor. "Stop pretending you don't know who I am and return what you stole from my ship!"

"I'm afraid I can't," the man said without looking at him. "I don't usually steal without a good reason."

"I don't care about your problems!"

The man looked over his shoulder at Zuko with a grin. Now that he got a good look at him, he was a young adult, with black hair pulled back in a bun and two large curls falling down the sides of his face. The man did not look more than twenty-five years old.

When the man looked at Zuko, his smile faded as he saw the scar on his face.

"I think so," he said seriously, but there was a glimmer of sympathy in his eyes. "Someone like Kanku probably did this to you, didn't he?"

Zuko looked away and covered his scar.

"You don't know what you're talking about..."

"A scar like that took something from you, I understand," he smiled bitterly. "Kanku took something from me as well—something that I value and that I will get back no matter what. Look, kid, I'm not a bad guy. I've seen what you can do. You're skilled. Help me tonight, and I'll give you anything you want."

"I don't want anything from you," Zuko refused.

"But you want something from Kanku, don't you?"

Zuko did not answer, thinking of the maps Commander Kanku had in his possession that would help him on his journey to the Northern Air Temple.

Smiling, knowing he had guessed correctly, the man tossed Zuko a red ceramic mask of what appeared to be an evil spirit.

"My name is Hong Shen," he introduced himself. "Wear this. Anonymity will be our ally."

Zuko looked at the mask and considered the implications of doing what Hong Shen suggested.

In the end, he didn't have to think too hard.

"Fine," he nodded before turning to look at Percy. "Will you help me?"

Percy smiled knowingly and put his blue dragon mask back on.

"Count on me, bro."

---

Under the cover of night, Zuko, Percy, and Hong Shen made their way through the dark forest. Their identities are concealed by their respective masks. Ready to infiltrate Commander Kanku's military base.

Hong Shen had changed into the same outfit he had used to infiltrate Zuko's ship, while the exiled prince had only donned the mask, not bothering to change his clothes. Percy simply donned a worn, long, black hooded robe that was somewhat threadbare at the feet. The long black tunic, along with his blue dragon mask, really made him look like some kind of vengeful spirit of the night.

When they reached the wall on the southwest side of the base, the three of them hid behind a bush, watching one of the entrances guarded by two guards armed with naginatas.

"So, how do we get in?" Percy asked.

"With this."

Hong Shen reached into his bag and pulled out a pair of explosives that Zuko immediately recognised and frowned under his mask.

"I can't believe I'm doing this... and with my own explosives!" he exclaimed indignantly.

"You can light it first if it makes you feel better," Hong Shen offered.

Zuko looked at the fuse of the explosive before squeezing it with his fingers, and after a small spark, the fuse ignited. Hong Shen wasted no time in throwing it towards one of the military base's towers, and a few seconds later it detonated with a thunderous explosion that alerted the guards, who quickly went to the site of the explosion and alerted the entire base.

"It is time; follow me," said Hong Shen.

Percy and Zuko followed the man to the base wall, where they used a ledge to climb over it. When they finally made it over the wall, they did so without any soldiers noticing them.

"It's an explosion!" they heard one of the guards yell, "In the southwest corner!"

The three quickly hid behind a corner and watched as the armed soldiers went to where the explosion had occurred.

"All right, they're gone," Zuko said before turning to look at the masked Hong Shen. "Where are we going?"

"This way," Hong Shen said, pointing down one of the corridors. "I studied the base plans I stole as a rookie soldier."

The three of them quickly made their way down the corridors of the base, but when they turned a corner, they were met by a dozen soldiers heavily armed with naginatas and swords.

"I guess the plans didn't say where the soldiers were patrolling," Percy commented.

"Sir, intruders!" shouted one of the soldiers. "It's the Red Spirit!"

"But... there are two of them," another soldier pointed out before adding, "along with a... blue dragon."

"Are you children?!" said a soldier who seemed to have the highest rank. "Catch those three!"

The soldiers followed their superior's order and surrounded Hong Shen, Zuko, and Percy, who quickly assumed a fighting stance. Zuko adopted a firebending stance, while Hong Shen and Percy drew their respective swords and engaged in combat with the soldiers.

While fighting the soldiers, Zuko noticed that Hong Shen was not using his firebending, only his dao swords.

"Why aren't you using your firebending?" he asked, sending a fireball at a soldier to stun him.

"Ah, no one would ask that," Hong Shen said, using his swords to deflect a fireball headed straight for him. "Why would a powerful firebender resort to using swords? And that's why no one suspects me."

Zuko snorted as he deflected a fireball coming straight at him, but his eyes widened in surprise as he saw the spear of two soldiers coming straight at him. A black blur appeared in front of him and stopped both spears. Zuko blinked and saw Percy parry the spears with his sword. The soldiers tried to thrust their weapons, but Percy stopped them, remaining motionless.

With a simple sweep of his sword, Percy disarmed both soldiers, then struck them in the head with the hilt of his sword, knocking them unconscious.

The three looked at the soldiers lying on the ground, unable to continue fighting.

"Quick, this way!" said Hong Shen.

Zuko and Percy followed him until the long corridor opened into a large open-air courtyard lit by several torches and lamps.

"The map room is that way," Hong Shen pointed down one of the corridors.

Behind them, down the corridor they had come from, they could hear soldiers yelling and coming closer and closer. And judging by the noise they were making, there were a lot of them.

"Damn, at this rate, they're going to catch us!" Hong Shen growled in frustration.

Percy looked down the corridor where the soldiers were closing in.

"Go, I'll give you time," he declared, standing in front of the corridor where the soldiers were approaching as he drew his sword. "I'll hold them off."

"Listen, boy," Hong Shen said impatiently. "I appreciate that you want to help us, but..."

Zuko cut him off by putting an arm in front of him.

"Let it go," he said. "Percy is more than capable to stop them."

Despite his mask, there was scepticism in Hong Shen, but he accepted Zuko's words with a nod.

They both left Percy in the courtyard and walked into the corridor, though Zuko turned to look at his friend one last time before leaving the courtyard.

"Are you sure your friend can handle this?" Hong Shen asked.

"I trust him," Zuko said without a hint of doubt.

"Very well then."

After wandering through the corridors of the military base, they came to a door that led to a staircase leading underground.

"The map room is over there, second door on the left," Hong Shen reported, pointing down a hallway. "As soon as you have what you're looking for, meet me in the courtyard where your friend is. Be back in five minutes, or I'll assume Kanku caught you."

Zuko simply nodded and walked in the direction Hong Shen pointed. When he saw the second door on the left, he used a burst of firebending to rip the doors off their hinges. Immediately, he recognised the map room, where he could see a large map of the world taped to the wall, with the names of the major cities and towns, along with the territory belonging to each nation.

In the middle of the room was a large desk, on which was a large detailed map of the city they were in, along with the surrounding area and, what caught Zuko's attention, the Northern Air Temple.

He quickly rolled up the map and put it into a backpack that he slung over his shoulders. When he left the room and returned the same way he had come, he was surprised to see Hong Shen waiting for him in front of the stairs he had come down earlier. What surprised him even more was that he was carrying a child in his arms.

"Did you find what you were looking for?" he asked, receiving a small nod from Zuko, still feeling somewhat disoriented to see Hong Shen carrying a child. "Good. Let's get your friend and get out of here."

They both started running down the corridor that would lead them to the courtyard. As they did so, Zuko glanced sideways at the boy. He looked to be about five or six years old. He was wearing worn-out and somewhat dirty clothes, but otherwise looked fine.

"Dad... is he your friend?" asked the boy, looking at Zuko with curiosity.

'Dad?' Zuko thought in surprise, 'Is this boy Hong Shen's son?'

"That's right, son," Hong Shen replied. "He is a friend who helped me rescue you. Now we're going to see another friend who helped me. He's stopped to hold off the guards, so you'll have to hide for a while. I help him deal with them so we can escape... Oh, by the spirits."

When they reached the courtyard, Hong Shen was shocked to see more than two dozen soldiers lying on the ground. Some of them were wounded and moaning in pain, while others were unconscious.

In the midst of them, Percy stood alone, yet imposing. And when he turned to look at them, Zuko had to remind himself that he was looking at his masked friend and not a vengeful spirit.

"Dad... is he another friend?" Hong Shen's son asked, clinging to his father in obvious fear.

"Yes... Don't worry. He won't hurt you."

Percy swung his sword, throwing away small drops of blood that had been left on the blade before sheathing it and approaching them.

"So, can we go now?" he asked

---

Surprisingly, getting out of the military base was much easier than getting in. Perhaps it was because many of their soldiers were unconscious or wounded due to Percy.

As they walked through the dark forest, Hong Shen, Zuko, and Percy took off their masks because there was no need for them to wear them. And also because Percy's mask scared Hong Shen's son, Zhen.

When they returned to the village, Hong Shen took them to the tent where the actors of the festival play were staying. Apparently, when the festival was over, they would move to another village, and Hong Shen and his son would go with them.

While they waited in the tent, Percy left the robe he had borrowed from the actors but kept the mask with him, as it was a gift he had received from Mai years ago.

It was then that Hong Shen entered the tent carrying a cup of rice.

"Eat, son," he said, and offered the cup of rice to Zhen, who began to eat it with pleasure. "We must leave the village as soon as possible. It won't be long before Kanku knows what happened and tracks us down."

"What does he want with a little boy?" Zuko asked what had been bothering him ever since he learnt that Hong Shen had infiltrated Commander Kanku's military base to get the child out.

"Extort me. There are few firebenders here in the colonies. So Kanku rewards any of us who join the army." Hong Shen stroked his son's head with a sad smile. "But I couldn't leave. My wife died giving birth to Zhen, so I'm the only family he has. I couldn't leave him alone. So when Kanku found out about my firebending and my refusal to join the army, he took Zhen to force me."

Zuko frowned and looked down thoughtfully.

"It is the duty of every citizen of the Fire Nation to serve their country," he recited the teaching that had been instilled in him for as long as he could remember.

"Maybe. But family is the most important thing. You'll understand that one day when you have children of your own. You'll do anything to protect them. I would do anything for Zhen." Hong Shen stood up and picked up his dao swords, looking at his reflection in the leaves. "And besides... suppose I was on the front lines... Why would I fight? This war has ruined generations of children like you two. Broken families, torn apart. Fire Nation families," he sheathed his swords and put them in a box. "Makes you wonder, what's the point of conquering if you're driving your people away?"

Zuko had a bitter expression on his face as he listened to Hong Shen, admitting that he made good points.

"Maybe, but... we don't know everything. We just have to trust that my pa... that the Fire Lord knows what's best," Zuko quickly corrected.

"The Fire Lord must know that he is taking children like you away from your families," Hong Shen replied truthfully. "You shouldn't be on a rickety old ship. Someone your age shouldn't have a scar like that. What kind of Fire Lord would let that happen?"

Zuko felt a cold stab in his heart at those words, but that coldness quickly erupted into a fiery anger that seemed to burn his stomach to the point of being almost unbearable.

He abruptly stood up from the box he was sitting in with an angry expression on his face, but before he could lash out at Hong Shen, a man entered the tent where they were sitting.

"Hong Shen, Hong Shen, you must help us!" he pleaded, holding his knees as he tried to catch his breath.

"Hey, take it easy, Tai," Hong Shen approached the man with concern. "What's wrong?"

Tai looked up, panic in his eyes.

"The Nian is back!"

---

Even before they reached the village, they could all hear the cries of fear and panic from the villagers. The screams led them to the festival being held near the harbor. And when they arrived, the whole place was in absolute chaos.

Tents were destroyed, as if they had been ravaged by a herd of Komodo rhinos. Others were ablaze from fallen lampposts. People were running in panic, and among them Zuko could see his uncle Iroh leading people away from the destruction. But the most puzzling thing to him was... he could not see the reason why they were running.

"Oh, by the holy spirits," Hong Shen murmured in a shaking voice. "It's here."

"Where is it?" Zuko asked, confused. "I don't see anything!"

"What?" exclaimed Percy, surprised. "How can you not see that thing? It's right there!"

Percy couldn't miss it. He had heard stories about the Nian from his father, but the stories did not give him any idea of how terrifying and ferocious the beast really was. This spirit was twice the size of a Komodo rhino and moved as fast as a mongoose. Its huge body seemed to be covered in thick segmented armour, like an armadillo bear. It had a long tail, and its thick claws looked as if they could tear through any soldier's armour like paper. And its head appeared to be that of a dragon, with a huge horn in the middle of its forehead.

"Only people with a strong spiritual connection can see spirits. Or only when the spirit wants to be seen," Hong Shen said before putting on his mask. "Tai, keep Zhen safe. I will scare off the Nian."

"Dad, you're going to face a spirit?!" Zhen asked, scared.

Hong Shen looked at his son and smiled bitterly.

"I have to, buddy."

He put on his Red Spirit Mask and unsheathed his dao swords before heading straight for the Nian that was destroying the tents and terrorising the people on its way.

"How do we stop that thing?" Percy asked as he watched Hong Shen perform flashy manoeuvres with his swords in an attempt to scare the Nian away.

Tai, who was holding Zhen, shook his head sadly.

"We can't," he replied. "The Nian is a spirit. We mortals cannot deal with it. All we can do is drive it away. That is the reason for the Fire Days Festival. Fire, noise, and light keep it at bay, but without someone to actively act as a guardian, the Nian will attack."

"And Hong Shen has been that guardian until now," Zuko said, remembering the villagers' stories.

Tai nodded.

"But today he didn't go to stand guard. I should have taken his place earlier instead of waiting for him to leave the village as we agreed."

Percy and Zuko looked sideways at Zhen, knowing the reason why Hong Shen had not stood guard tonight.

A loud roar echoing through the earth caught their attention. Everyone turned to look at the source of the noise, and Zuko opened his eyes in utter shock to see a huge figure begin to appear as if it were a mirage.

"That is... the Nian?" He muttered, perplexed and a little frightened to see this beast appear out of nowhere.

"Can you see it yet?" Percy asked.

"It would be hard not to, considering it's so big it would barely fit on the deck of our ship. That is, if it doesn't destroy it first with its claws or its giant horn."

The Nian watched Hong Shen and flexed its entire body, a low growl escaping its throat as it eyed him warily.

"Good, he's making it go backwards." Tai said hopefully.

"I... I don't think so," Percy said sceptically.

He had seen the same position in cats before. They bent their bodies like that when they were about to pounce and... pounce on their prey.

The Nian lunged straight at Hong Shen, its jaws open to bite him, but he managed to dodge just in time, raising his swords to parry the Nian's claws, but he had to quickly step aside as he was overwhelmed by the power of the spirit. Hong Shen swung his swords, but they struck the Nian's armoured skin. Roaring more in anger than pain, the beast used its long tail like a whip to strike Hong Shen, sending him flying into a tent and destroying it.

"Dad!" Zhen cried out in fear and concern as he saw his father being thrown so brutally.

The Nian was attracted by Zhen's cry and turned in their direction, baring its fangs with a menacing growl.

"Oh, oh... I don't like that look," Percy said, taking a step back. "It almost looks like Azula's when she's angry. Almost."

The Nian roared loudly and approached them slowly, its footsteps seeming to shake the earth as it approached.

"Hey, take it easy, kitty." Percy held up his hands to calm it down. "Resist your curiosity if I have a taste for komodo chicken. I'm pretty sure I don't."

He didn't know if his skin could withstand the attack of a real spirit, but he wasn't too eager to find out.

The Nian just growled louder and charged at them. Everyone scattered, but the Nian seemed to focus on only one target: Zhen.

Seeing the beast heading for the boy, Tai stepped between them, but the Nian used its long tail to strike him and send him brutally into a tree. The spirit loomed menacingly over Zhen, who was trembling with fear, and used its jaws to grab his clothes and lift him up.

"No..." Hong Shen growled and crawled out of the tent where the Nian had sent him. "Zhen..."

"Dad!" the boy cried in panic.

The Nian started to run towards the sea, still carrying Zhen in its jaws.

"Zhen! No!" Hong Shen tried to get up but fell to his knees, unable to stand due to his injuries. "Damn it...! Zhen!"

Hong Shen cried out in frustration and despair as he saw Zhen being carried into the sea by a spirit. The last thing he saw before the Nian plunged into the dark waters was his son's expression of utter terror and the tears in his eyes.

"Zhen..."

Hong Shen looked devastated as he fell face first to the ground, staring in shock at the spot where the Nian had taken his son.

"Percy?!" Zuko cried in alarm, "What are you doing?"

They all watched in bewilderment as Percy ran down the dock and jumped straight into the sea without hesitation.

Percy expected that the moment he hit the water, he would be overcome by a bone-chilling cold and see almost total darkness. But it was just the opposite. The moment the water touched his body, Percy felt an indescribable energy coursing through his entire body. The water felt comfortable, almost pleasurable. And when he opened his eyes, he could see clearly under the water as if it were noon. He could see the huge body of the Nian plunging deeper and deeper at a terrifying speed, and hanging from its jaws was Zhen, who was covering his mouth to avoid swallowing water.

Without thinking, Percy began to swim toward the bottom of the sea, following the Nian at a speed that outstripped his mind. It was as if the water currents themselves were pushing him where he wanted to go, and when he was within a few feet of the Nian, he brought his sword forward as if it were a human harpoon.

"Hey, you overweight hippo cow!" he shouted, not realising that his voice was clearly heard on the ocean floor.

The Nian turned just in time to see Percy's sword go straight for its head and strike the side of its face. The blade did not pierce the spirit, but it pushed it hard enough to force its jaw open and release Zhen. The Nian crashed into a rock at the bottom of the sea, kicking up a large cloud of dust.

Perry approached Zhen, who was flailing in an attempt to swim. He grabbed him and, in an instinctive act, created an air bubble large enough for both of them to fit in.

Zhen took a deep breath and spat out the water he had unwillingly swallowed. It was only when they were inside the bubble that Percy realised that he had been breathing normally all along... even while underwater.

"You..." Zhen said, coughing. "You're a... waterbender?"

"Yeah... something like that," Percy replied, watching the cloud of dust that slowly began to settle.

He couldn't see the Nian, but he could feel it. It was there, lurking. And it would attack any moment.

"Listen, Zhen, you have to get out of here," Percy said. "I'm going to push this bubble to the surface, and when you get there, swim to shore as fast as you can. Can you do that?"

"Y-yes..." Zhen nodded shakily. "I can swim a little. But what about you?"

"I stay," Percy squinted in the direction of the dust cloud, where he saw the Nian's tail moving through the dust. "I have an idea."

Zhen looked unsure but finally nodded.

When Percy emerged from the air bubble, he used the water currents to push it upwards, quickly carrying Zhen to the surface. The Nian, seeing its prey moving away, lunged at Zhen with the intention of catching him, but Percy used the same currents to push the beast away from the boy and began to swirl it violently around it. The Nian began to shake and roar loudly as it saw the water currents around it begin to rapidly freeze until they encased it in a ball of ice.

Percy allowed himself a second to sigh, but the relief was short-lived as he saw cracks begin to appear in the ball of ice until it abruptly shattered into pieces and the Nian roared wildly. The beast looked at him with those yellow eyes that glowed underwater and lashed out with its claws, ready to slice him open.

Percy used his sword to parry the beast's claws and resisted its strength, but could do nothing as the Nian hovered over him and opened its mouth, revealing its great fangs before sinking them into Percy's shoulder. But the fangs failed to penetrate his skin, even as the Nian began to shake him violently in an attempt to tear him apart.

The two began to wrestle, with Percy using his sword to stab or cut it, but the blade didn't even make a scratch on its skin. It seemed that his sword was incapable of hurting the spirit.

"I... told... you... that... I... don't... taste... like... komodo... chicken!" he shouted as he swung his sword.

The Nian's only response was a muffled snarl as it jerked its jaw roughly in an attempt to tear at him, but all it managed to do was tear at his clothes. They were both in a stalemate.

Realising that he could not hurt it with his sword, Percy commanded the currents of the sea to push the Nian away from him and succeeded, but the beast managed to strike him with its tail, sending him toward the rocks at the bottom of the sea and slamming into them. He felt his head hit a rock, disorienting him a bit. Through his blurred vision, he watched as the Nian began to swim quickly towards the surface.

"No..." Percy growled, weakly reaching out and controlling the currents of the sea to stop the spirit, but the Nian was still rising, struggling against the currents.

Percy's vision began to clear, and when it did, he noticed that on his outstretched hand, the ring his father had given him glowed faintly in the darkness of the ocean and felt strangely warm on his finger. Looking closer, he noticed that the letters engraved on the ring glowed brighter, and for the first time, he could understand them.

"Anaklusmos," he whispered, opening his eyes in surprise as he realised the meaning. "Riptide."

The ring glowed brighter, and when the glow faded, Percy saw that he was holding a sword that appeared to be made of gleaming bronze with a double-edged blade. The sword was about three feet long and had a leather-wrapped hilt and a flat guard riveted with gold nails.

Percy looked at the sword in utter shock, still unable to believe what he had seen. His ring... had become a sword. How was that even possible? Was it some other kind of blessing from the spirits?

He didn't know, but when he held the sword in his hand, it felt immensely comfortable. As if the sword had been made just for him.

Percy looked up and saw that the Nian had almost reached the surface. He blinked and commanded the currents to carry him upward. He rose with an almost overwhelming speed, as if he had been shot with a catapult.

"Hey, ugly!" Percy shouted, holding the bronze sword tightly in both hands, "Are you hungry? Eat this!"

The Nian turned around when it heard his voice but could not react in time as Percy collided with it, piercing it with his sword. Due to the speed with which Percy rammed into the Nian, they both broke the surface of the sea and crashed into the shore, sliding down the sand.

Percy slowly rose from the sand with a groan and saw that all the villagers had gathered on the shore with shocked expressions on their faces at the sight of the Nian. Among them, he could see Hong Shen hugging Zhen, who was crying audibly. Iroh stood with Zuko, who looked at Percy as well as at the Nian.

Priestess Umeko stepped forward first, followed by a group of villagers, who looked stunned at the sight of the Nian's lying body.

"You... defeated him," she muttered in disbelief. "You defeated the Nian... How?"

Percy approached the Nian's prone body. Judging by the way its chest was rising and falling erratically, it was still alive, even though a sword was stuck in its chest up to the hilt. When it was roughly pulled out, the Nian roared in pain but didn't get up.

"With this," Percy said, raising the sword for all to see, "I... found it in the Nian's cave."

"In its cave?"

Percy shrugged.

"I suppose since it was a weapon that could cut it, it guarded it jealously in its cave."

"That... makes sense."

Though judging by the sceptical look on the priestess' face, she didn't quite believe him.

"Is everyone all right?" Percy asked, looking at the villagers.

"Fortunately, no one was hurt," Umeko replied. "Only the tents were destroyed. Nothing that can't be rebuilt."

"That's good," Percy nodded in relief.

He watched as Hong Shen approached him, carrying Zhen in his arms with a touched smile. Even Zhen smiled at him and put a finger to his lips as he winked at him. Percy took it as a sign that he wouldn't tell anyone about his abilities. But then Percy saw Zhen's smile turn into an expression of terror.

"Watch out!" he shouted.

Percy turned to see the Nian standing upright again in all its imposing height and raising one of its arms with outstretched claws.

Everything seemed to slow down for Percy. He heard the panicked screams of the villagers and the worried cries of Zuko and Iroh, but it all sounded far away. All his attention was focused on the Nian. And when the beast launched a claw, Percy's body acted instinctively as he dove to avoid the blow. He approached the beast and swung his new sword hard in an upward arc. The Nian lay motionless for a second before its head separated from its body and fell to the sand with a thud. The beast's body collapsed and slowly began to fade into a whitish glow until nothing remained but its severed head.

A sepulchral silence pervaded the place. The only sounds were the lapping of the waves and the howling of the wind. When Percy turned to look at the villagers, he saw that they were all watching him with varying degrees of shock, including Iroh and Zuko.

He figured that was to be expected, since he had killed a spirit in front of them.

---

That night I killed a spirit. And the villagers were ecstatic. No longer would they have to live in fear of the Nian attacking them. No longer were they afraid of losing their homes, their livestock, and their children.

The festival continued with even more fervor than before. The villagers took the severed head of the Nian, impaled it, and placed it in the center of a large bonfire.

All night long, the villagers danced and sang. And they all cheered my name.

Perseus, the slayer of the beast. Perseus... The slayer of spirits.

...

..

.

---

That's all for now, dear readers!

And nothing more to say... Until next time, beautiful people!

E/N - Once again it is I, TeenGuy back with another chapter, and while Alex doesn't have anything to say, I do.

First things first, let's give Alex some cookies for this wonderful, and if I do say so *sigh*, long chapter (::)(::). 15k words is a feat in itself.

Secondly is that we can now start to see the integration of Percy, understanding parts of his heritage evidenced by the letters from Luke and his sword, three cheers for Anaklusmos people. I , like all of you, am looking forward to seeing where it goes in the future. Cyas